How to do a complete Windows backup?

[Deleted member 1578100]

Hello guys, I want to do a complete backup of my current windows installation before formatting my C drive. My question is how do I do that and which program do I use? I have some programs installed on my external HDD as well, so will the uninstall data for those programs go into the backup as well? How would I use the backed up Windows installation?
Thanks!

 

[USAFRet]

1. Why do you want to format your C?
2. What OS is this?
3. What other drives do you have, and what is on them?

 

[ZippyPeanut]

Download the free version of Macrium Reflect and use its cloning feature to clone everything on your C drive to the new drive. It's easy, and if you feel like you need a tutorial, there's plenty of good YouTube videos showing how to use Macrium. All programs and files will be duplicated (and installed) on your new drive. Do not format the C drive until you know that the clone is successful and that you can boot from the OS on the new drive. To determine if you can boot from the clone, you will need to go into the BIOS/UEFI to tell your PC to boot from the clone. If you successfully boot from the clone, check all your files on the clone to ensure that they have been successfully backed up. Then you can format your C drive.

 

[geofelt]

If you have not done so, consider this as an opportune time to convert your "C" drive to a ssd.
Buy a Samsung evo of sufficient capacity to hold what you are using on the current "C" drive.
Migrate to the ssd using Samsung data migration aid.
When you are done, replace the hard drive with the ssd.
Then you will have a known good "C" drive backup.